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THE  UNITED  STATES 
GRAPHITE  COMPANY 


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SAGFNAW.  MFCHIGAN,  U.S. A. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/usgcosmexicangraOOunit 


U.SG.Co's.  Mexican 

GRAPHITE  PAM 

Its  uses  and  users' 


THE  UNITED  STATES 
GRAPHITE  COMPANY 

GENERAL  OFFICES  AND  FACTORY 

SAGI  MAW  MICHIGAN,  U.  S.  A 

MIKES  IN  S O N OR  A,  MEXICO 


♦ 


Copyright  1414  By 

THE  UNITED  STATES  GRAPHITE  COMPANY 
Saginaw,  Michigan.  IJ.  S.  A. 


INTRODUCTORY 


EALIZING  that  in  treating  of  paints— 
especially  of  what  are  termed  protec- 
tive paints — the  tendency  with  many 
is  to  theorize  rather  than  to  deal  with 
actualities  concerning  the  particular 
paint  under  consideration,  we  offer 
within  the  pages  of  this  booklet  only 
such  facts  pertaining  to  the  Graphite  Paint  which  we 
make,  as  have  been  established  beyond  a doubt  by  au- 
thentic data  collected  by  ourselves  during  the  years  of 
our  experience,  and  in  presenting  these  facts — and  they 
are  facts — it  will  be  observed  that  we  talk  right  from  the 
shoulder  in  good,  plain  English  avoiding  as  far  as  possible 
the  technical  verbiage  which  has  more  significance  in  the 
Laboratory  than  in  the  Office  and  which  is  ofttimes  em- 
ployed by  Manufacturers  of  questionable  integrity  to 
masquerade  a nostrum  as  the  real  thing. 

The  different  structures  herein  reproduced  will  not 
only  convey  some  idea  of  the  varied  and  extensive  use 
of  U.  S.  G.  Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  but  will  also 
serve  as  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  fact  that  this  paint 
is  favorably  regarded  by  Architects  and  Engineers  of 
national  repute. 

We  hope  that  our  effort  in  this  direction  may  be 
of  some  service  to  those  in  search  of  a paint  which 
really  protects. 


THE  UNITED  STATES  GRAPHITE  COMPANY 
Saginaw,  Michigan,  U.  S.  A. 


u . s 

. G . 

Co’s. 

MEXICAN 

GRAPHITE 

PAINT 

■ 

■ ■ ■ 

CONTENTS 

■ 

About  Graphite 

8 14 

Two  Formations  of  Graphite 

Amorphous  vs.  “Flake”  Graphite 

Uniform  Purity  of  Mexican  Graphite 

Mexican  Graphite  Peculiarly  Adapted  to  Paint  Making 


Mexican  Graphite  as  a Pigment 
Objections  to  “Flake”  Graphite  as  a Pigment 
Artificial  “Graphite” 

Our  Vehicle  16 

Use  of  Dryers  Minimized 

The  Color  16-18 

Our  Five  Standard  Colors 

The  Covering  Power  18 

How  to  Estimate  Quantity  Needed 

The  True  Measure  of  Paint  Economy  20 

Condensed  Information  22 

A Few  Letters  from  Satisfied  Users  of  U.  S.  G.  Co’s 

Mexican  Graphite  Paint  24  30 


Approved  by  the  U.  S.  Navy  Department 
Approved  by  the  U.  S.  War  Department 
For  Surfaces  Exposed  to  Chemical  Action 
For  Bridges,  Structural  Steel,  etc. 

For  Roofs  and  Stand-Pipes 

For  Mill,  Smoke-Stack  and  Vessel  Painting 

For  Elevator  Painting 

For  Gas  Holder  Painting 

Comparative  Analysis  of  Several  Widely  Advertised  Brands 

of  Graphite  Paint  32-36 

Specifications  for  Proper  Graphite  Painting  38 

Size  of  Packages  38 


6 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


7 


Kohl  Building  Hyman  Building  Keil  Building  Baruch  Building 

San  Francisco,  California 


U S G Co’s 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


ABOUT  GRAPHITE 


LT  HOUGH  graphite — also  called  plumbago  and 
black  lead — is  perhaps  applied  to  a greater  diver- 
sity of  uses  than  any  other  mineral,  we  probably 
know  it  best  in  the  form  of  common,  ordinary, 
every-day  “lead”  pencils,  where,  as  we  all  know, 
it  is  the  whole  thing,  for  a pencil  is  good  or  bad 
as  the  graphite  of  which  it  is  made  is  uniformly  pure  or  otherwise. 

Some  of  us,  too,  know  it  in  the  form  of  graphite  paint  and 
favorably  or  unfavorably  as  our  experience  has  been  with  paint 
made  from  pure  or  impure  graphite. 

There  are  two  formations  of  graphite — Crystalline  or  “flake” 
iwo  and  Amorphous  or  “non-structural.”  It  is  the  latter  which  must 
Formations  used  for  pencil  making  and  which  for  reasons  hereinafter  given 

of  Graphite  i i i - 

is  conceded  the  superior  for  paint  purposes. 

To  be  suited  to  pencil  making  graphite  must  be  pure — uniformly 
pure — and  capable  of  the  most  minute  pulverization  so  as  to  permit 
of  its  intimate  incorporation  with  other  materials  which,  it  will  be 
observed,  are  the  same  considerations  essential  to  good  paint  mak- 
ing graphite. 

Flake  graphite  is  not  available  for  pencil  making  because  it  is 
incapable  of  fine  pulverization  and  this  is  one  reason  why  its  pres- 
Amorphous  ence  in  paint  is  undesirable.  Further  objections  will  be  stated  later. 

Amorphous  graphite  on  the  other  hand  is  susceptible  of  reduc- 
(.raphite  tion  1°  impalpable  and  gritless  fineness  and  is  of  a nature  to  combine 
readily  and  intimately  with  other  materials — in  pencil  making  with 
clays  and  in  paint  grinding  with  the  vehicle. 

Thus  far,  however,  it  has  not  been  found  possible  to  produce  a 
satisfactory  pencil  with  artificial  graphite  which  though  amorphous 
in  nature  seems  to  lack  uniformity  and  to  contain  more  or  less  grit, 
probably  due  to  the  fact  that  Man,  clever  as  he  is,  cannot  trans- 
form coal  into  as  good  graphite  as  is  produced  in  Nature’s  Labora- 
tory. 


Purity  and 
Absolute 
Uniformity 
of 

Mexican 

Graphite 


Regarding,  then,  the  pencil  as  the  graphite  product  most  sensi- 
tive to  impurities  and  lack  of  uniformity  in  the  graphite  used  in  its 
production  and  considering  the  loss  which  must  fall  on  the  pencil 
maker  through  the  presence  of  even  a small  percentage  of  objection- 
able foreign  matter  in  even  a single  batch  of  leads,  there  is  consider- 
able significance  in  the  fact  that  for  the  past  fifteen  years  not  less 
than  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  World’s  pencil  graphite  has  been  taken 
from  one  mine  and  that  mine,  located  in  the  State  of  Sonora,  Mexico, 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Meyerstein  & Rothchild  Building 
San  Francisco,  California 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


is  owned  and  operated  by  ourselves.  This  means  that  all  of  the 
larger  pencil  makers  both  in  this  country  and  abroad  are  and  have 
for  years  been  under  contract  with  The  United  States  Graphite  Com- 
pany for  the  most  important  material  entering  into  the  manufacture 
of  their  product- — and  why?  Simply  because  experience  has  taught 
them  to  look  to  us  for  the  best  which  with  them  stands  for  purity 
and  absolute  uniformity — otherwise  hard,  gritty  pencils  with  the 
attending  loss  must  inevitably  result. 


MEXICAN  GRAPHITE 

As  has  been  intimated,  the  inherent  qualities  of  graphite  suit- 
able for  pencil  or  paint  making  are  identical  one  with  the  other — 
that  is  to  say  the  graphite  best  adapted  to  either  use  must  be 
(1)  pure,  (2)  susceptible  of  minute  pulverization,  (3)  of  a nature 
Peculiar^  to  incorporate  intimately  with  other  materials  and  (4)  absolutely 
\dapte<Mo  unj|-orm  jn  gjj  these  respects. 

Making  Our  relation  to  the  pencil  industry  of  the  World  has  already 
been  stated  and  in  itself  is  good  evidence  that  we  have  the  right 
sort  of  a pigment  on  which  to  build  a graphite  paint  possessing  in 
the  greatest  degree  all  of  the  many  advantages  afforded  by  carbon 
coatings — and  that  is  exactly  what  we  offer  in 

U.  S.  G.  CO’S  MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


The  pigment  in  this  paint  is  Mexican  Graphite  mined  by  our- 
selves, amorphous  in  formation  and  analyzing  85  per  cent,  pure 
natural  graphite — this  we  guarantee. 

It  is  an  absolutely  inert  substance  which,  by  reason  of  its 
purity,  is  impervious  to  any  known  exposure — that  is  to  say  besides 
exerting  no  destructive  influence  on  the  vehicle  or  corrosive  action 
on  metal  it  is  unaffected  by  smoke,  water,  brine,  acids,  alkali, 
extreme  temperatures,  steam,  moisture,  sulphur  fumes  or,  in  fact, 
by  any  chemical  or  climatic  condition  thus  constituting  the  ideal 
protective  pigment. 

o/tphit"  Amorphous  in  formation,  Mexican  Graphite  can  be  and  is 
■ pulverized  and  air-floated  (by  a special  process  of  our  own)  to  an 
impalpably  fine  and  gritless  powder  which  is  then  re-ground  in 
oil  with  which,  being  finely  divided,  it  unites  readily  and  so  inti- 
mately that  when  finally  reduced  to  ready-for-use  consistency  it 
does  not,  like  graphite  (?)  pigments  carrying  a large  percentage 
of  silica,  etc.,  precipitate  to  a hard  mass  at  bottom  of  package.  Its 
light  specific  gravity  also  contributes  to  this  end. 

The  action  of  crystalline  or  flake  graphite,  however,  is  very 
different  for  unlike  the  amorphous  product  it  is,  by  reason  of  its 
fibrous-like  micaceous  nature,  both  an  exceptionally  difficult  ma- 


10 


Stockton  National  Bank  Electrical  Building 

Stockton.  California  San  Francisco,  California 


U . S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


11 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Objections 

to 

“Flake** 
Graphite 
as  a 
Pigment 


The 

“Fish  Scale’* 
Theory 
Exploded 


With 
Regard  to 
Artificial 
“Graphite** 


terial  to  grind  to  even  a reasonable  degree  of  fineness  and  utterly 
incapable  of  the  uniform  reduction  so  essential  in  a pigment  intended 
to  fonn  the  base  of  a protective  paint.  Then,  too,  no  matter  how 
finely  pulverized  it  remains  always  a “flake”  similar  in  form  to 
finely  divided  mica  or  fish  scales,  a formation  which  the  reader 
will  recognize  as  less  capable  than  air-floated  amorphous  graphite 
of  combining  with  the  vehicle  in  such  a way  as  to  result  in  the 
solid,  opaque  paint  film  necessary  for  the  exclusion  of  moisture 
and  gases  from  the  surface  which  it  covers  and  is  supposed  to 
protect. 

Furthermore  a microscopic  examination  of  a paint  film  carry- 
ing crystalline  graphite  will  reveal  the  fact  that  instead  of  over- 
lapping each  other  and  disposing  of  themselves  in  a manner  similar 
to  shingles  on  a roof  or  scales  on  a fish,  as  is  alleged  by  a certain 
prominent  maker  of  graphite  paint,  the  sharp  edges  of  these  little 
scale-like  flakes  protrude  after  the  vehicle  has  become  oxidized 
thus  creating  a rough  and  more  or  less  porous  coating  which  catches 
and  absorbs  moisture  thereby  permitting  it,  together  with  destruc- 
tive gases,  to  penetrate  to  and  corrode  the  surface  which  it  is 
desired  to  protect,  this  condition  being  apparent  even  when  two 
and  three  coats  have  been  applied. 

So  all  things  considered,  it  is  evident  that  graphite  of  the 
crystalline  or  flake  variety  is  less  desirable  for  paint  purposes  than 
amorphous  or  non-structural  gr a] flute. 

Of  amorphous  graphites  there  arc  (if  one  wishes  to  regard 
“graphitized”  anthracite  coal  or  “artificial  graphite”  as  graphite) 
two  sorts — (1)  natural  and  (2)  artificial. 

The  one  is  produced  by  Nature,  the  other  by  Man. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  manufacturers  of  that  graphite 
product  most  sensitive  to  the  presence  of  foreign  matter  and  lack 
of  uniformity,  the  lead  pencil,  continue  in  the  use  of  natural  graphite 
notwithstanding  that  the  price  of  the  artificial  product  is  consid- 
erably less — a fact  of  no  little  significance  when  it  is  further  known 
that  we  ourselves  could  purchase  this  “graphite”  made  from  anthra- 
cite coal  for  less  than  it  costs  us  to  mine  in  Mexico,  transport  to 
Michigan  and  prepare  for  use  the  graphite  of  which  U.  S.  G Co.'s 
Mexican  Graphite  Paint  is  made. 

Then,  too,  although  it  is  true  that  in  some  cases  this  artificial 
graphite  will  analyze  as  high  as  90  or  even  95  per  cent,  “carbon,” 
it  is  questionable  whether  all  of  the  same  is  really  graphite  carbon 
or  whether  a large  percentage  is  merely  anthracite  coal  which  in 
the  laboratory  also  tests  as  carbon  and  which  therefore,  when 
ground  in  connection  with  graphite,  cannot  easily  be  distinguished 
therefrom. 


12 


Chamber  of  Commerce  Building 

Cleveland,  Ohio  Cleveland,  Ohio 


U S G Cos. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


13 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Easily 
Confuslble 
with 
Other 
Forms 
of  Carbon 


How 
A nthraclte 
Coal  May 
Test  as 
Carbon 


Stability  of 
Artificial 
(Graphite  as 
a Pigment 
Only 
Theoretical 


Purity 

Always 

Paramount 


This  peculiarity  was  recently  brought  to  our  attention  in  the 
following  rather  amusing  manner: 

In  responding  to  a request  from  a paint  manufacturer  for 
samples  and  prices  of  cheap  graphite  in  the  dry  form  among  the 
samples  we  submitted  were  two  qualities  of  graphite  foundry 
facings,  one  containing  about  25  per  cent,  and  the  other  about  40 
per  cent,  graphitic  carbon  the  former,  of  course,  being  the  less 
expensive.  Upon  having  these  samples  analyzed  our  customer, 
to  his  surprise,  received  from  his  chemist  a report  showing  the  lower 
priced  product  to  carry  nearly  60  per  cent,  graphitic  carbon. 

Here  is  the  explanation: 

The  facing  containing  25  per  cent,  graphite  was  made  by  grind- 
ing together  one  ton  graphite  ore  (analyzing  75  per  cent,  graphitic 
carbon),  one  ton  crude  soapstone  and  one  ton  anthracite  coal 
screenings.  Thus  in  three  tons  of  product  there  were  75  units  of 
graphitic  carbon  or  an  average  of  25  per  cent,  for  each  ton.  Count- 
ing the  coal,  however,  as  100  per  cent,  carbon  there  were  175  units 
of  carbon  per  three  tons  of  product  or  an  average  of  about  58  per 
cent,  “carbon”  (reported  by  their  chemist  as  graphitic  carbon) 
instead  of  only  25  per  cent,  as  claimed  by  ourselves. 

With  the  foregomg  facts  we  will  leave  the  reader  to  draw  his 
own  conclusions  as  to  the  relative  values  for  paint  purposes  of 
natural  amorphous  graphite  analyzing  85  per  cent,  graphitic  carbon 
and  artificial  graphite  analyzing  90  per  cent,  “carbon,”  adding  only 
that  while  the  natural  product  has  been  in  use  for  a great  many 
years  and  thus  has  to  its  credit  the  infallible  test  of  time,  the  arti- 
ficial graphite  pigment  is  of  recent  creation  and  its  stability  is  as 
yet  but  a matter  of  theory. 

The  question  of  purity,  however,  should  always  be  paramount 
for  obviously  if  not  pure  a graphite  pigment  must  contain  other 
substances — silica,  iron,  barytes,  anthracite  carbon,  etc. — which, 
not  being  impregnable  under  all  conditions  as  is  graphite,  are  a source 
of  weakness. 

True,  some  paint  makers  claim  the  presence  of  silica  and 
similar  materials  as  desirable  but  upon  investigation  it  will  invari- 
ably be  found  that  the  natural  impurities  carried  by  the  ore  from 
which  their  pigment  is  ground  are  the  very  elements  argued  as 
beneficial — certainly  a strange,  not  to  say  convenient,  coincidence 
and  yet  easily  explainable  when  one  considers  that  it  would  cost 
money  to  eliminate  these  impurities. 

The  pigment  in  U.  S.  G.  Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  is,  as 
previously  stated,  natural  graphite  guaranteed  85  per  cent.  pure. 

Having  now  quite  thoroughly  discussed  the  different  graphite 
pigments  we  desire  to  direct  attention  to  the  care  exercised  by 


14 


U . S . G . Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


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15 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Regarding 
the  Vehicle 


About  Our 
Linseed 
Oil 


Use  of 
Dryers 
Minimized 


Graphite 

Paint 

Specialists 


ourselves  in  preparing  the  vehicle  used  in  U.  S.  G.  Co.'s  Mexican 
Graphite  Paint  and  combining  it  with  the  pigment. 

Fortunately  our  consumption  of  linseed  oil  is  so  considerable 
that  for  some  years  past  we  have  been  able  to  contract  for  the  entire 
output  of  one  of  the  best  equipped  plants  in  the  Northwest  wherein 
we  enjoy  the  advantage  of  having  this  most  important  of  paint 
materials  made  under  our  own  specifications  and  supervision  and 
of  the  very  best  selected  Northwestern  flaxseed,  thus  being  assured 
of  an  absolutely  uniform  oil  eliminated  of  all  impurities  and 
sufficiently  aged  to  render  it  first-class  in  every  respect. 

We  have  also  originated  a special  method  of  treatment  which 
so  improves  the  drying  properties  of  linseed  oil  as  to  afford  satis- 
faction in  this  regard  without  that  excessive  use  of  japans  and 
dryers  which  tends  to  shorten  the  life  of  paint  so  materially. 

Then,  too,  besides  enjoying  these  exceptional  facilities  for 
securing  just  the  right  sort  of  raw  materials  we  have  the  further 
advantage  of  a plant  especially  designed  and  equipped  for  the  manu- 
facture of  graphite  paint — for  we  make  graphite  paint  only.  Our 
pulverizers  and  separators  are  of  a type  peculiarly  adapted  to  the 
proper  reduction  of  graphite  ore.  Our  mills  are  the  kind  that  grind 
and  incorporate  a graphite  pigment  with  its  vehicle  most  intimately. 
Our  mixers  are  thorough  in  their  work.  Our  laboratory  is  com- 
plete. Men  of  experience  are  in  charge.  Every  precaution  is  taken 
to  ensure  a high-grade  paint.  Nothing  is  left  to  chance. 

So  as  specialists  in  graphite  paint  our  undivided  attention  is 
centered  on  its  proper  production  and  the  believer  in  graphite  paint- 
ing may  consistently  look  to  us  for  the  best. 


THE  COLOR 


Introduction 
of  Coloring 
Pigments 
Detract  from 
Durability 


Sometimes  prospective  purchasers  of  paint  are  inclined  to  give 
preference  to  the  lighter  colors  as  perhaps  more  pleasing  to  the  eye, 
and  to  meet  this  demand  a few  paint  grinders  have  attempted  the 
absurdity  of  preparing  a line  of  light  color  graphite  (?)  paints. 

The  natural  color  of  graphite,  a dark  slate  (see  our  Color  A), 
can  only  be  changed  by  the  introduction  of  coloring  pigments  in 
quantity  sufficient  to  produce  the  desired  shade  which  of  necessity 
reduces  the  percentage  of  graphite  in  the  finished  paint  thus  pro- 
portionately detracting  from  its  protective  value. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  for  such  structures  as  are  usually  painted 
with  graphite  paint  color  is  a secondary  consideration.  In  any 
event  we  regard  a dark  color  as  preferable,  for  in  the  smoky,  grimy, 
greasy  atmosphere  of  a manufacturing  or  railroad  district  light- 
colored  surfaces  soon  become  soiled  and  streaky — so  we  don’t 


U S , G Co’s 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Stevens  Point,  Wisconsin,  Post  Office 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  Post  Office 
Alpena,  Michigan,  Post  Office 

James  Corse.  Contractor,  Racine,  Wisconsin 


17 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Our  Five 
Standard 
Colors 


What  is 
Cover!  nil 
Power?” 


Thin  Coats 
vs. 

Thick  Coals 


How 
Thin  CoatN 
Reduce 
First  Cost 
and 
Minimize 
Cost  of 
Maintenance 


Covers 
1,000 
Square  Feet 
Per  Gallon 


How  to 
Estimate 
Quantity 
Needed 


attempt  the  lighter  shades  but  just  make  five  good,  durable  colors: 
Color  A (natural  color),  Color  C (jet  black), 

Color  B (dark  green),  Color  D (dark  brown). 

Color  E (red) 

Ask  for  our  Color  Card. 

COVERING  POWER 

The  term  “covering  power”  as  here  employed  refers  to  the 
ability  of  a paint  to  form,  when  spread  over  a certain  fixed  area,  a 
film  or  coating  of  sufficient  body  and  opacity  to  afford  effective 
protection  to  the  surface  which  it  covers. 

A paint  which  will  bring  about  this  result  with  a thin  coat  is 
clearly  more  economical  than  one  which  must  be  applied  thickly. 

Both  the  first  cost  and  the  cost  of  maintenance  are  less. 

For  even  though  prices  per  gallon  be  the  same  a paint  that 
will  effectually  cover  two  squares  of  surface  for  every  one  square 
which  its  competitor  will  cover  is  of  a certainty  less  in  first  cost 
and  the  cost  of  maintenance  is  minimized  because  thin  coats  ol 
proper  body  and  opacity  are,  for  the  following  reasons,  more  durable 
than  thick  coats. 

The  more  “brushing  out”  a paint  will  stand  the  better  will  it 
dry  and  more  fit  will  it  be  to  unite  with  subsequent  coats.  Thick 
paint  films  instead  of  knitting  together  in  the  formation  of  one 
homogeneous  coating  have  a tendency  to  separate  and  crack  par- 
ticularly when  applied  to  constantly  contracting  and  expanding 
metal  surfaces. 

U.  S.  G.  Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  under  normal  weather 
conditions  will  effectively  coat  approximately  1,000  square  feet  of 
smooth  metal  per  gallon  and  other  surfaces,  wood  or  metal,  in  pro- 
portion according  to  condition  and  the  skill  of  the  painter.  This 
is  about  three  times  the  covering  power  of  red  lead  and  twice  that 
of  “mineral”  paints;  in  other  words  to  be  equally  low  in  first  cost 
lead  paints  must  be  purchased  at  one-third  and  mineral  paints  at 
one-half  the  price  of  our  product.  In  estimating  one’s  require- 
ments, however,  due  allowance  should  be  made  for  waste  of  paint, 
complexity  of  architecture,  class  of  labor  employed,  weather  con- 
ditions, etc.,  which,  in  the  hands  of  a painter  of  average  skill  makes 
the  per  gallon  covering  power  of  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite 
Paint  approximately  as  follows: 

First  Coat  Second  Coat 
Dressed  lumber  or  old  painted  wood  400  sq.  ft.  550  sq.  ft. 

Rough,  scaly  or  rusty  metal  surface  750  sq.  ft.  900  sq.  ft. 

Smooth  or  new  metal  surface  900  sq.  ft.  900  sq.  ft. 

and  other  surfaces,  wood  or  metal,  in  proportion  according  to  con- 
dition. 


18 


Briar  Cliff  Manor  Addition,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
Terry  & Tench  Co.,  Contractors 

Evanston  Public  Library,  Evanston.  Illinois 


19 


u . s 

MEXICAN 


G . Co’s. 

GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Thus  it  is  seen  that  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint 
possesses,  by  virtue  of  its  purity,  both  the  covering  power  essential 
to  reasonable  first  cost  and  the  durability  imperative  to  low  cost 
of  maintenance. 


PAINT  ECONOMY 


It  has  been  well  said  that — 

“The  economic  value  of  a paint  is  the  sum  total  of  the  cost 
of  the  material  and  its  application  divided  by  the  number  of  times 
of  renewal  within  a given  term  of  years.’’ 

Roughly  speaking  but  one-third  of  the  cost  of  painting  is 
consumed  in  the  purchase  of  paint  materials  about  two-thirds 
going  for  the  labor  of  application,  so  the  true  measure  of  paint 
The  True  economy  is  not  price  per  gallon  but  years  of  service  for  the  labor 
Measure  of  costs  of  applving  good  paint  and  poor  paint  are  the  same. 

Paint 

Economy  Assuming,  then,  that  of  a certain  sum — say  $150.00 — expended 
in  painting  a given  surface  but  one-third  ($50.00)  goes  for  the  paint 
itself,  it  is  clear  that  even  by  cutting  the  per-gallon  price  in  two  the 
first  cost  of  the  job  is  reduced  only  $25.00,  which  is  about  16  per 
cent,  of  the  total  outlay. 

Now  consider — - 


Is  this  16  per  cent,  really  saved? 

In  using  cheap  paint  one  expects  to  sacrifice  quality.  You 
can’t  buy  a silk  dress  at  calico  prices.  When  you  buy  paint  at  one- 
half  the  price  asked  by  reputable  manufacturers  for  good  paint  you 
now  the  are  apt  to  get  even  less  than  half  value  which  would  mean  perhaps 
item  <>f  four  renewals  as  against  two  within  a period  of  say  fifteen  years. 

I abor  B - 

Affects  the  In  the  instance  above  cited  this  would  represent  the  outlay  of 
cost  .»f  §500.00  as  against  $300.00  or  an  average  yearly  cost  of  mainten- 
ance  of  S33.33  as  against  S20.00 — an  increase  of  66  per  cent.;  in 
other  words  to  reduce  first  cost  sixteen  per  cent,  the  cost  of  maintenance 
is  increased  sixty-six  per  cent,  by  reason  of  the  expense  attending 
two  extra  renewals. 


So  much  with  regard  to  the  painting  of  surfaces  accessible  for 
renewal  coats.  The  protection  of  inaccessible  surfaces  such  as  the 
steel  skeletons  of  our  modem  skyscrapers  is,  we  are  sure  the  reader 
will  agree,  of  even  greater  importance  for  here  the  risk  involved 
RcsponlaVe  through  weakening  by  corrosion  is  so  enormous  as  to  warrant  every 
Maker  possible  precaution.  Only  paint  of  demonstrated  merit  made  by 
a manufacturer  of  known  and  unquestioned  integrity  should  be 
considered. 


20 


U . S . G . Co's. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Northern  Michigan  Power  Company,  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Michigan 
Gottfried  Brewing  Company,  Chicago,  Illinois 


21 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


First  Cos* 
anti 
(lost  of 
M aintenancc 


IN  A NUTSHELL 

i on.icnsed  you  will  secure  in  U.  S.  G.  Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  a protective 

Information  . . . 

coating  of 

( 1 ) reasonable  first  cost 

(2)  low  cost  of  maintenance 

(3)  maximum  durability 

(4)  proper  covering  power 

(5)  satisfactory  drying  properties 

(6)  excellent  working  qualities 

Reasonable  first  cost  because  of  reasonable  price  and  large  cover- 
ing power. 

Low  cost  of  maintenance  because  of  durability. 

Maximum  durability  because  our  Mexican  Graphite  by  reason 
of  its  uniform  purity  is  an  absolutely  inert  pigment  and  as  such 
not  only  has  no  deleterious  effect  on  oil  and  no  corrosive  action 
on  metal,  but  is  absolutely  unaffected  by  smoke,  water,  brine,  acids, 
alkali,  extreme  temperatures,  steam,  moisture,  sulphur  fumes  or, 
in  fact,  by  any  chemical  or  climatic  condition.  Then,  too,  as  has 
already  been  pointed  out,  it  is  susceptible  of  minute  pulverization 
and  of  such  a nature  as  to  combine  readily  and  intimately  with  the 
vehicle  which  consists  of  pure  linseed  oil  made  under  our  own 
specifications  and  supervision  and  specially  treated  in  a manner 
to  ensure  satisfactory  drying  with  minimum  use  of  dryers.  Its 
elasticity  permits  its  use  on  metal  surfaces  without  cracking,  scaling 
or  peeling  with  the  contraction  and  expansion  of  the  surface  which 
it  covers.  It  is  adhesive. 

Proper  covering  power  because  it  may  be  spread  over  a greater 
than  ordinary  area  and  still  form  an  opaque  and  waterproof  coating 
of  good  body — a coating  which  will  unite  homogeneously  with  sub- 
sequent applications. 

Satisfactory  drying  properties  because  it  will  dry  within,  a reason- 
able length  of  time  without  the  excessive  use  of  strong  dryers. 

Excellent  working  qualities  because  it  will  spread  easily  on  iron, 
steel  or  galvanized  iron  surfaces  without  running  even  in  cold 
weather  and  does  not  settle  hard  in  bottom  of  package. 

In  substantiation  of  these  claims  we  have  on  file  a great  many 
letters  which  have  been  written  to  us  from  time  to  time  by  satisfied 
users  of  the  paint  which  we  make. 

A few  of  these  letters  are  printed  on  the  following  pages. 


I>urahilir> 


Covering 

Power 


Drying 

Properties 


Working 

Qualities 


Testimonial 

Letters 


Philadelphia  & Reading  Coal  and  Iron  Company  Dock,  Superior  Wisconsin 
Savannah  Brewing  Company,  Savannah,  Georgia 


If  O ("*  fn’c 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


23 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  NAVY 


Approved 
by  the 
U.  S.  Navy 
Department 


Address  Bureau  of  Equipment,  Navy  Department, 
and  Refer  to  No.  190,451 

Washington,  D.  C.,  Feb.  2,  1909. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Michigan. 

Gentlemen: 

1.  The  Bureau  informs  you  that,  after  a careful  comparison  of  graphite 
paints  at  the  Navy  Yard,  New  York,  it  has  found  your  product  to  be  equal 
in  efficiency  and  durability  to  others  of  its  class. 

2.  This  comparison  will  be  considered  in  the  award  of  future  contracts. 

Very  respectfully, 

(Signed)  Wm.  S.  Coulis, 

Chief  of  Bureau  of  Equipment. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT 
Office  of  Chief  of  Ordinance 


Approved 
by  the 
U.  S.  War 
Department 


Washington,  May  14,  1907. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

Referring  to  your  letter  of  June  12,  1906  (17 883— 127),  1 am  instructed 
by  the  Chief  of  Ordinance  to  enclose  herewith  report  of  the  test  of  the  paints 
therein  referred  to.  A circular  letter  has  been  sent  to  the  Ordinance  estab- 
lishments authorizing  them  to  consider  your  special  green  paint  and  special 
drab  paint  in  competition  with  others  for  use  on  guns  and  gun  carriages.  It 
is  of  course  understood  that  the  paint  they  are  authorized  to  consider  shall  be 
tfce  same  as  that  tested. 

Very  respectfully, 

(Signed)  Lamson  M.  Fuller, 

Major,  Ord.  Dept.,  U.  S.  A. 


CITY  OF  CLEVELAND 

Department  of  Charities  and  Corrections 

United  States  Graphite  Co.,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Nov.  14,  1892. 

Saginaw,  E.  S.,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

\s  a We  are  pleased  to  advise  you  that  your  paint  which  we  applied  to  the 
Roof  Paint  roofs  cf  our  buildings  has  given  entire  satisfaction  thus  far  and  we  think  it 
will  show  an  endurance  that  will  amply  justify  your  claim  for  economy. 

Yours,  etc., 

(Signed)  W.  S.  Patterson, 

Superintendent.  . 


PENNSYLVANIA  ICE  COMPANY,  Ltd. 

Altoona,  Pa.,  June  5,  1893. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

During  March  we  purchased  from  you  a considerable  quantity  of  Graphite 
Paint  and  since  then  have  used  it  very  extensively  in  and  about  our  factory, 
Unaffected  and  we  desire  to  say  that  it  has  given  us  the  utmost  satisfaction  and  is  superior 
by  Brine,  in  every  way  to  any  paint  we  have  ever  used. 

Steam  or  We  have  used  it  upon  our  steam,  brine  and  ammonia  pipes,  and  as  far 

Ammonia  as  we  are  able  to  judge  the  paint  remains  unchanged  in  appearance  and  is  not 
affected  in  any  way. 

We  take  pleasure  in  recommending  it  to  those  who  desire  a paint  that 
is  proof  against  heat,  moisture  or  brine. 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)  Pennsylvania  Ice  Co.,  Ltd. 

F.  H.  Seely,  Mgr. 


24 


Smelter  at  Garfield,  Utah 
American  Smelting  & Refining  Company 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


SWIFT  & COMPANY 
Union  Stock  Yards 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co.,  Chicago,  Dec.  26th,  1892. 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

We  have  tried  many  kinds  of  protective  paints  for  exposed  iron  work  and 
find  your  Graphite  Paint  gives  us  the  best  satisfaction. 

Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  H.  A.  Bower, 

Master  Mechanic. 


UNION  STOCK  YARD  & TRANSIT  CO. 

OF  CHICAGO,  ILL. 

U.  S.  Graphite  Co.,  Chicago,  Dec.  20,  1902. 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

As  requested  by  you,  we  have  tested  your  graphite  paint  by  applying  it 
to  the  screens  in  the  sheep  house  where  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  fumes  of 
ammonia,  and  are  pleased  to  say  that  it  has  stood  the  test  better  than  any- 
thing we  have  ever  used  heretofore.  The  bbl.  order  given  you  recently  will 
assure  you  that  the  same  was  satisfactory. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  W.  G.  Morgan, 

Acting  Purchasing  Agent. 


CHICAGO  BRIDGE  AND  IRON  CO. 

Chicago,  August  28th,  1902. 

United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Fur  Saginaw,  Mich. 

Structural  Gentlemen: 

Steel  We  take  pleasure  in  stating  to  you  that  after  five  years  experience  with 

Mexican  Graphite  Paint  as  manufactured  by  you  we  find  it  thoroughly  satis- 
factory and  expect  to  continue  its  use  indefinitely. 

Yours  truly, 

(Signed)  Chicago  Bridge  & Iron  Co., 

By  Henry  W.  Wilder,  Sec’y. 


WISCONSIN  BRIDGE  AND  IRON  CO. 

U.  S.  Graphite  Co.,  North  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  Nov.  7,  1902. 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

In  reply  to  yours  of  the  17th  inst.  we  are  pleased  to  state  that  we  have 
used  the  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  for  over  five  years,  and  are  satisfied  that 
it  is  as  good  as  any  graphite  paint  manufactured.  We  are  using  it  wherever 
no  other  paint  is  specifically  called  for  in  specifications. 

Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  Wisconsin  Bridge  & Iron  Co., 

By  H.  A.  Wagner, 

Sec’y  and  Treas. 


Efficient 

Under 

Severe 

Kxposure 


KENWOOD  BRIDGE  CO. 

U.  S.  Graphite  Co.,  Chicago,  Nov.  19,  1902 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

F«r  Gentlemen: 

Bridge  We  beg  to  say  in  response  to  your  inquiry  that  we  have  used  your  Mexican 
Painting  Graphite  Paint  for  several  years  and  found  that  it  has  given  very  general  satis- 
faction and  take  pleasure  in  giving  you  this  testimonial. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  Kenwood  Bridge  Co., 

By  F.  W.  Barker, 

President. 


26 


U . S . G . Go’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Tenth  Avenue  Bridge,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota 
Coal  Docks,  Duluth,  Missabe  & Northern  R.  R.  Co. 


27 


II  c P pn’«! 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


MICHIGAN  MILLING  CO. 

Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  Tan.  10,  1908. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Dear  Sirs: 

We  have  for  a number  of  years  used  your  Graphite  Paint  with  good  results. 
We  have  this  year  painted  five  elevators  on  four  of  which  we  have  used  the 
Graphite  Paint.  We  would  have  done  so  in  the  fifth  case  but  for  a peculiar 
condition  existing.  We  send  with  this  letter  a photograph  of  our  Vernon  ele- 
vator, one  of  those  which  we  have  just  painted.  This  was  last  painted  with 
Graphite  paint,  ten  years  ago,  and  while  the  paint  had  been  worn  somewhat  by  the 
elements  the  building  was  still  protected  from  the  weather.  We  make  these  state- 
ments as  they  may  be  of  interest  to  you.  We  are, 

Yours  truly, 

(Signed)  Michigan  Milling  Co., 

Per  G.  F.  Allmendinger,  Secretary. 


SAVANNAH  BREWING  COMPANY 

Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  17,  1913. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

In  answer  to  your  inquiry  beg  to  say,  that  we  have  used  your  Mexican 
Graphite  paints  in  every  way,  on  brine  tanks,  coils,  water  pipes,  and  on  every- 
thing that  we  could  think  of,  and  we  have  found  it  to  be  absolutely  up  to 
everything  that  you  promised.  After  a great  many  years  of  experience  with 
all  kinds  of  paints,  we  are  candid  to  say  that  Mexican  Graphite  is  the  very 
best  for  purposes  for  which  we  have  used  it,  and  we  will  heartily  recommend 
it  to  anyone  desiring  a paint  that  will  give  absolute  satisfaction. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Savannah  Brewing  Company. 

W.  W.  Starr,  Manager. 


BRADLEY-RAMSEY  LUMBER  CO. 

Lake  Charles,  La.,  March  3,  1892. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

You  may  ship  us  any  time  within  thirty  days  three  barrels  of  your 
Graphite  Paint,  for  our  mill  roofs.  Consign  same  as  previous  shipments, 
impervious  We  find  it  to  be  the  best  material  we  ever  used.  Our  trouble  here  has  been 
to  Salt  Air  to  get  a paint  that  would  be  impervious  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  climate, 
Exposure  especially  the  salt  air  from  the  gulf.  Your  paint  does  the  business  to  our 
entire  satisfaction. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

(Signed)  Bradley-Ramsey  Lumber  Co., 

By  Wm.  E.  Ramsey,  President. 


Mexican 

Graphite 

Paine 

Best 


Kesists 

Elements 

for 

Ten  Years 


Acceptable 
to  the 
Governmen  t 
Officials 


JAMES  CORSE,  GENERAL  CONTRACTOR 

Racine,  Wis.,  Jan.  7,  1914. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

In  regard  to  the  graphite  paint  which  you  have  furnished  us  for  almost 
all  the  post  offices  which  we  have  constructed,  desire  to  say  that  in  every  instance 
the  material  supplied  by  your  firm  has  been  very  acceptable  to  the  Government 
Officials  and  that  we  have  had  no  cause  of  complaint  or  trouble  regarding  the 
same. 

Respectfully, 

James  Corse. 

By  Wm.  F.  Kachel,  C.  E. 


28 


United  States  Government  Viaduct,  Rock  Island,  Illinois 

Ralph  Modjeska,  Chicago,  Illinois,  Engineer  Bayne  & Hewitt,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Contractors 


U . S . G . Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


29 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


SANDUSKY  GRAIN  CO. 


Cheaper  than 
35c.  Paint 
for 
Elevator 
Painting 


Sandusky,  Mich.,  June  27,  1908. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

Jn  reply  to  yours  of  the  25th.  Would  say  that  so  far  we  are  very  well 
pleased  with  results  of  your  green  Graphite  Paint  and  will  very  likely  need 
another  half-barrel  within  a short  time. 

We  are  receiving  many  compliments  on  the  looks  of  our  plant  since 
painting  with  this  color  as  it  is  a contrast  to  the  other  plants  thru  this  section. 
Its  covering  ability  is  quite  remarkable  and  we  think  at  this  price  it  is  much 
cheaper  to  cover  the  surface  than  with  35c  Coal  Tar  compounds. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  Sandusky  Grain  Co., 

A.  L.  Chamberlain,  Mgr. 


THE  INGALLS  IRON  WORKS  CO. 


Cives  Entire 
Satisfaction 
on  Important 
huildings 


Birmingham,  Ala.,  Dec.  20,  1913. 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 

Gentlemen: 

Replying  to  your  favor  of  the  16th,  wish  to  say  that  we  have  used  your 
Graphite  Paint  on  some  of  the  most  important  buildings  and  structures  in  this 
district  and  it  has  always  given  us  entire  satisfaction.  It  gives  us  pleasure  to 
endorse  it. 

Yours  respectfully, 

The  Ingalls  Iron  Works  Company. 

By  Wm.  F.  Thornton,  Sec.  and  Treas. 


Springfield  Gas  Light  Co., 

Springfield,  IU. 

Peoria  Gas  & Electric  Co., 

Peoria.  111. 

Evansville  Gas  & Electric  Light  Co., 

Evansville,  Ind. 

Williamsport  Gas  Co.. 

Williamsport,  Pa. 

Saginaw  City  Gas  Co., 

Saginaw.  Mich. 

Bay  City  Gas  Co.. 

Bay  City.  Mich. 

Kalamazoo  Gas  Co.. 

Kalamazoo,  Mich. 

Pontiac  Light  Go.. 

Pontiac.  Mich. 

Jackson  Gas  Co., 

Jackson.  Mich. 


Office  of 

W.  H.  BARTHOLD, 

Consulting  Engineer 


New  York,  N.  Y., 

October  2,  1907. 


CIRCULAR  LETTER  No.  17  TO  MANAGERS  OF  BRANCHES 

HOLDER  PAINT 

Dear  Sir: 

After  many  years  experience  we  have  found  that  the  best  paint  for  holders 
is  graphite  paint,  and  we  have  found,  too,  that  of  the  different  graphite  paints 
on  the  market  that  made  by  The  United  States  Graphite  Company  is  the  best. 

For,  while  it  seems  at  first  thought  to  be  a little  more  expensive  than  some 
paints,  its  greater  covering  power  more  than  offsets  any  reasonable  difference 
in  price  so  far  as  first  cost  is  concerned,  and  then,  too,  it  is  so  much  more  durable 
that  we  regard  it  as  the  cheapest  paint  we  can  buy. 

I wish  hereafter  you  would  paint  your  holders  with  nothing  but  U.  S.  G. 
Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  in  its  natural  color.  On  the  guide  framing,  how- 
ever, may  be  used  their  Color  “D”  (Dark  Brown)  as  this  combination  of  colors 


30 


U S G Cos 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


United  States  Government  Dam,  Locks  and  Bridges 
Illinois  and  Mississippi  Canal 


31 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


gives  the  holders  a very  attractive  appearance.  This  paint  should  be  bought 
direct  from  The  United  States  Graphite  Co.,  Saginaw,  Mich. 

Before  again  painting  any  holders,  if  you  cannot  see  your  way  clear  to 
do  as  above  requested,  please  take  the  matter  up  with  me. 


Copy  to — 

W.  R.  R.  Springfield 

E.  W.  E.  Peoria 

H.  D.  Evansville 

S.  B.  S.  Saginaw 

S.  B.  Bay  City 


Yours  truly, 

(Signed)  W.  H.  Barthold. 

F.  W.  B.  Kalamazoo 
C.  A.  B. 

'1'.  J.  W.  Pontiac 
H.  M.  E.  Jackson 


Maile  Both 
Nelil  anil 
Laboratory 
Tests 


Prior  to  issuing  the  above  instruction  to  his  Branch  Managers 
Mr.  Barthold,  besides  conducting  a number  of  very  thorough  and 
comprehensive  field  tests  stretching  over  a period  of  several  years, 
took  the  additional  precaution  to  submit  samples  of  three  of  the 
most  widely  advertised  makes  of  Graphite  Paint  (inclusive  of  our 
own  and  all  of  which  had  previously  been  tested  in  the  field)  to 
one  of  the  most  prominent  chemists  in  the  United  States  with  the 
following  results: 


J.  II.  MATTHES 


Laboratory  for  Practical  Research  and  Industrial  Development 
36  LaSalle  St. 


Analyses 
of  Several 
Well  Known 
Brands 


Chicago,  111.,  Sept.  13,  1907. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Barthold,  Consulting  Engineer, 

C/o  Hodenpyl,  Walbridge  & Company, 

7 Wall  Street, 

New  York  City. 

Dear  Sir: 

We  submit  the  following  report  on  the  investigation  of  three  samples  of 
graphite  paint  recently  submitted: 

We  have  designated  the  samples  as  follows: 

#1.  U.  S.G.  Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint, 

The  United  States  Graphite  Co., 

Saginaw,  Mich. 


#2.  (Name  of  Maker  will  be  given  on  request.) 

#3.  (Name  of  Maker  will  be  given  on  request.) 

The  paints  will  hereafter  be  designated  by  their  numbers. 


Complete 

Analysis 


Linseed  Oil 

1 

per  cent.  69 . 35 

—Paint  i\o.- 
2 

57  89 

3 

55  16 

Moisture  . . 

“ “ .20 

.40 

.40 

Graphitic  Carbon 

24  43 

13  44 

13  68 

Combined  Moisture 

“ " .79 

1.60 

.51 

Insoluble  Silica 

66 

7 07 

13  56 

Soluble  Silica 

1 74 

5 49 

5.48 

Iron  Oxide  (FejOal 

" “ .33 

1.37 

3.46 

Titanium  Oxide  (TiOj) 

“ “ .13 

.35 

.66 

Alumina  (AhOs)  . 

“ “ 1.70 

4.12 

5.74 

Calcium  Oxide  (CaO) 

“ “ .28 

.35 

.26 

Magnesium  Oxide  (MgO)  . 

.21 

.85 

.22 

Manganese  Oxide  (MnO)  . 

“ “ trace 

.11 

. 16 

Lead  Soap  from  drier  . 

“ “ .63 

.20 

Manganese  Soap  from  drier 

.05 

.39 

Resinate  of  Lead  . 

1.50 

Resina te  of  Manganese 

1.07 

Potassium 

trace 

.... 

Rosin 

3.84 

.... 

32 


New  York,  New  Haven  & Hartford  R.  R.  Co. 


33 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Analydia 

of 

Piemen  t 


. 

-Paint  No.- 

Graphitic  Carbon 

\ 

1 

2 

Combined  Moisture  ) 

per  cent. 

84  05 

42  60 

32 

27 

Insoluble  Silica 

2.20 

20  02 

30 

96 

Soluble  Silica 

“ “ 

5 . 83 

15.54 

12 

51 

Iron  Oxide 

( Fe-.Oa) 

“ “ 

1 10 

3.88 

7 

87 

Titanium  Oxide 

(TiO,)  . 

“ “ 

.44 

1 .00 

1 

51 

Alumina 

(Al>Os) 

“ “ 

5.69 

11.68 

13 

54 

Calcium  Oxide 

(CaO)  . 

“ “ 

.93 

1 .00 

60 

Magnesium  Oxide 

(MgO) 

71 

2.45 

49 

Manganese  Oxide 

(MnO) 

trace 

30 

37 

From  the  an 

alysis  it  can  readily 

be  seen  that 

Paint 

No.  2 contain 

a 

large  amount  of  clayey  matter  and  also  much  added  silica.  The  U.  S.  G. 
Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  (No.  1)  contains  no  minerals  intentionally 
added.  The  residue  is  an  impure  clay.  Paint  No.  3 contains  added  silica 
as  well  as  large  amounts  of  clayey  matter.  It  also  contains  much  iron. 


Our  tests  show  that  the  graphite  in  Paint  Xo.  2 is  the  coarsest.  Other 
things  being  equal  the  more  finely  ground  the  pigment,  the  more  uniform 
will  be  the  coating.  We  fail  to  see  the  superiority  of  flake  graphite  as  a pig- 
ment. It  is  highly  improbable  that  the  flakes  will  arrange  themselves  in 
Plnenes*  an  ever)j  symmetrical  layer;  on  the  contrary  it  is  very  likely  that  they  will 
of  overlap  and  thus  increase  the  tendency  to  scale.  While  the  fineness  of  the 
Piemen i pigment  is  an  important  factor  in  the  quality  of  the  paint,  one  must  not 
disregard  the  composition  of  the  pigment  when  considering  the  durability 
of  the  paint. 


Pure  carbon,  even  lamp-black,  ground  in  good  linseed  oil,  will  make  an 
extremely  durable  coating,  the  reason  for  this  being  that  an  inert  material 
like  carbon  surrounding  itself  with  and  absorbing  large  quantities  of  linseed 
oil,  is  better  able  to  stand  corrosion  than  more  chemically  active  materials, 
such  as  clays.  Analysis  shows  that  in  the  pigment  from  Paint  No.  2 there 
is  but  38.08%  graphite  and  about  an  equal  anvunt  of  clay  and  20.02%  of 
insoluble  silica.  Paint  No.  3 contains  in  the  pigment  31.10%  graphite,  about 
(.r.iphiie  the  same  amount  of  clay  and  30.96%  insoluble  silica.  In  the  U.  S.  G.  Co.'s 
vs  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  (No.  1)  the  pigment  consists  of  81.42%  of  graphite, 

Silica  about  16%  clay  and  2.20%  insoluble  silica.  From  this  it  must  be  evident 
a Piumem  that  the  latter  pigment  is  superior  to  the  other  two.  It  requires  from  6 to  8 
gallons  of  oil  to  make  100  pounds  of  graphite  into  a paste;  whereas,  for  a 
like  quantity  of  silica  but  2 5/7  gallons  are  required.  Therefore,  a paint 
containing  much  insoluble  silica  can  be  made  cheaper  than  a nearly  pure 
graphite  paint,  but  its  value  is  proportionately  lessened. 


Paint  No. 

1 2 3 


Linseed  Oil 

per  cent.  98  10 
“ “ 92 

89  17 

98  40 

Unsaponifiable  matter 

.86 

.92 

Lead  Soap 

" “ .89 

. 36 

A nalysis 

Manganese  Soap  . 

09 

2 '33 

.68 

of 

Lead  Resinate 

41  44 

Vehicle 

Manganese  Resinate 

“ “ 

1.68 

Rosin 

4 4 4 4 

5.96 

The  carrier  in  all  cases  is  a linseed  oil.  In  Paint  No.  2 the  oil  has  been 
treated  with  metallic  resinate,  thus  accounting  for  the  presence  of  rosin  and 
resinates  in  the  analysis.  This  gives  the  oil  a dark  color  but  makes  it  a quick 
drier  although  their  presence  in  large  quantities  is  detrimental  to  the  paint. 

Both  the  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  (No.  1)  and  Paint  No.  3 
contain  small  percentages  of  driers  but  no  rosin.  In  no  case  was  there  any 
mineral  oil  present,  as  careful  analysis  showed,  although  the  samples  do 
contain  appreciable  quantities  of  unsaponifiable  matter.  It  is  a well-known 
fact  that  pure  linseed  oils  do  contain  small  amounts  of  unsaponifiable  matter. 
We  refer  to  the  work  of  Niegemann  in  the  Chemische  Zeitung,  page  97,  (1904) 
and  of  Fahrion  in  the  Zeitschrift  fur  Angewandt  Chemie,  page  1193  (1903). 


34 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Alton  Light  & Traction  Co.,  Alton,  Illinois 
Alton,  Granite  City  & St.  Louis  Traction  Co.,  Mitchell,  Illinois 

Kenwood  Bridge  Co.,  Chicago,  Illinois,  Contractors. 


35 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Per  cent,  loss  on  1 gram 
sample  Paint  No. 

1 2 3 


During  1st 

ten-minute  period  of  ignition 

20.94 

26.68 

37.45 

“ 2nd 

ii  il  ii 

19.03 

16.95 

24 . 03 

Comparison  3rd 

it  ii  .i 

22.90 

19.05 

16  96 

of  Heal  4th 

19.36 

19.02 

07 

Resistance  * 5th 

15.19 

10.39 

“ 6th 

ii  ii  «i 

1.50 

1 50 

“ 7th 

ii  ii  ii 

04 

20 

Our  object  was  to  ascertain  the  relative  hardness  of  the  graphites  by 
noting  their  resistence  to  heat.  The  method  is  as  follows:  A gram  of  the 
purified  carbon  was  weighed  into  a platinum  crucible  and  the  latter  heated 
in  a vertical  position  over  a Chaddock  burner  for  exactly  ten  minutes.  After 
cooling  the  crucible  was  weighed  and  its  contents  thoroughly  stirred  with  a 
platinum  wire  and  again  ignited  for  ten  minutes.  This  process  was  continued 
until  the  loss  in  weight  was  insignificant.  In  all  cases  the  same  burner  and 
the  same  flame  were  used  so  that  our  results  are  comparable  with  each  other. 
We  have  expressed  our  results  as  the  percentage  loss  of  the  pure  carbon  after 
ignition  for  successive  ten  minute  periods. 

Our  data  show  that  in  seventy  minutes,  practically  all  of  the  purified 
graphite  from  Paint  No.  2 can  be  burned  off;  the  same  is  true  for  the  U.  S. 
G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  (No.  1).  In  thirty  minutes  the  graphite 
from  Paint  No.  3 is  burned  away  almost  entirely,  showing  it  to  be  soft  and 
easily  consumed.  Our  work  on  the  composition  of  these  pigments  in  the 
combustion  furnace  has  verified  the  above  deductions. 

Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  J.  H.  Matthes. 


Some  Paints 
“Graphite” 
in  Name 
Only 


The  Presence 
of  Rosin 
Detrimental 


Necessity 
of  Careful 
Application 


It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  analysis  that  in  Paint  No.  2 
less  than  one-half  and  in  Paint  No.  3 less  than  one-third  of  the  pig- 
ment is  graphite  and  that  our  pigment  contains  twice  as  much 
graphite  as  the  former  and  nearly  three  times  as  much  as  the  latter. 

It  will  also  be  observed  that  as  these  other  brands  (names  on 
request)  contain  less  graphite  than  silica  and  other  substances  they 
are  really  “graphite”  paints  in  name  only — so  called  in  order  to  help 
sell  them — silica  and  similar  materials  being  purposely  added  in 
order  to  reduce  cost  of  production. 

As  graphite  paint,  then,  ours  has  twice  the  value  of  the  one  and 
three  times  the  value  of  the  other. 

Another  consideration  which  we  wish  to  point  out  is  the  greater 
fineness  to  which  our  pigment  is  ground  thereby  permitting  more 
intimate  incorporation  with  the  vehicle  and  still  another  is  the 
superior  quality  of  our  vehicle  which  carries  no  rosin  or  other  life- 
shortening adulterants. 

There  is,  however,  always  this  to  remember — 

The  best  of  paint  may  through  careless  and  improper  appli- 
cation be  rendered  less  efficient  even  than  poor  paint  which  has 
been  carefully  applied  to  a properly  prepared  surface — in  fact  its 
value  as  a protective  coating  may  easily  be  almost  wholly  destroyed. 

The  application  of  paint,  therefore,  should  be  made  after  well- 
thought-out  specifications  and  under  intelligent  supervision.  We 
offer  a few  suggestions  in  this  regard  on  the  following  page. 


Omaha  and  Council  Bluffs  Street  Railway  Bridge,  Iowa 
West  Water  Street  Bridge,  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin 


U S G Cos. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


37 


U . S . G . Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


SPECIFICATIONS  FOR 
PROPER  GRAPHITE  PAINTING 

Structural  Steel  or  Iron — After  removing  all  mill-scale,  dirt, 
oil,  grease  and  foreign  matter  of  every  description  by  means  of 
wire  brushes,  scrapers  or  sand-blast,  parts  to  be  enclosed  or  in 
contact  must  be  given  one  coat  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite 
Paint;  and  before  exposure  to  the  weather  and  prior  to  shipment 
from  mill  all  structural  work  shall  receive  one  coat  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s 
Mexican  Graphite  Paint  which  must  be  thoroughly  dry  before  load- 
ing; after  erection  another  coat  of  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite 
Paint  shall  be  applied,  this  last  coat  to  be  of  a different  color  than 
Sfor  Paintin’  l^c  coat’  an(i  surfaces  which  have  been  chafed  or  imperfectly 

structural  covered  shall  be  properly  retouched  and  allowed  to  dry  before 

making  subsequent  applications.  If  more  than  one  coat  is  to  be 
applied  after  erection  sufficient  time  must  be  allowed  to  elapse 
between  coats  to  permit  of  perfect  drying.  No  painting  shall  be 

done  in  wet  weather  or  on  damp  surfaces,  paint  must  be  kept 

well  stirred  while  in  use,  application  must  be  made  in  thin  coats 
well  and  evenly  brushed  and  all  paint  must  be  delivered  at  the 
job  ready  for  use  in  original  packages  bearing  the  Trade  Mark  of 
The  United  States  Graphite  Co.,  Saginaw,  Mich. 

Metal  Roofing,  Corrugated  Iron,  Etc.— One  coat  U.  S.  G.  Co.’s 
Mexican  Graphite  Paint  shall  be  applied  to  under-surface  and  same 
must  be  thoroughly  dry  before  laying;  immediately  after  laying 
clean  thoroughly  of  all  grease,  dirt  and  foreign  matter  of  every 
description  and,  if  tin,  remove  all  rosin  at  seams  and  apply  two 
coats  U.  S.  G.  Co.'s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint,  the  first  coat  to  be 
thoroughly  dry  before  application  of  second  coat  which  must  be  of 
a different  color  than  the  first  coat.  No  painting  shall  be  done  in 
wet  weather  or  on  damp  surfaces,  paint  must  be  kept  well  stirred 
while  in  use,  application  must  be  made  in  thin  coats  well  and  evenly 
brushed  and  all  paint  must  be  delivered  at  the  job  ready  for  use 
in  original  packages  bearing  the  Trade  Mark  of  The  United  States 
Graphite  Co.,  Saginaw,  Mich. 

U.  S.  G.  Co.’s  Mexican  Graphite  Paint  is  put  up  in  one-half 
and  one-gallon  tin  pails  (packed  in  cases  of  six  gallons  each),  five 
and  ten-gallon  kits,  half-barrels  and  barrels. 


Specification!! 
for  Painting 
Metal 
Roofing, 
Corrugated 
Iron,  etc. 


Size  of 
Package* 


PRICES  ON  REQUEST 


The  Ohio  and  Colorado  Smelting  and  Refining  Company,  Salida,  Colorado 
North  End  Bridge,  City  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts 


U . S . G . Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


39 


U S G Co's. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Rockefeller  Building 
Cleveland,  Ohio 


40 


U . S . G . Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Rockefeller  Building 
Cleveland,  Ohio 


41 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


MEXICAN  GRAPH 
USED  ON  THIS  STE E L 

hhhmhmhh 


MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  pain', 
U5ED  ON  THU  5T££L  iTMCI 


£ united,  states  GRAPHITE  CO 

i'J.VAw  ■ MlCh.  u» 


Schofield  Building 
Cleveland,  Ohio 


42 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Schofield  Building 
Cleveland,  Ohio 


43 


U . S . G . 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE 


Co’s. 

PAINT 


Seventh  Street  Viaduct,  Des  Moines,  Iowa 

Pittsburg-Des  Moines  Steel  Co.,  Contractors 

Viaduct,  Union  Station  Association,  Detroit,  Michigan 


44 


ienesee  Avenue  Bridge,  Saginaw,  Michigan 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


45 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Grand  Avenue  Bridge,  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin 
Zenith  Furnace  Co.,  Duluth,  Minnesota 


46 


The  Colorado  lee  and  Cold  Storage  Company,  Denver,  Colorado 
Globe  Plant,  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company,  Denver,  Colorado 


47 


Staunton  Coal  Mining  Company,  Staunton,  Illinois 
Western  Coal  & Coke  Company,  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin 

Kenwood  Bridge  Company,  Chicago,  Illinois,  Contractors 


48 


Hutchinson  Chemical  & Alkali  Company,  Hutchinson,  Kansas 

Illinois  Steel  Bridge  Company.  Kansas  City.  Missouri,  Contractors 

Iola  Portland  Cement  Company  of  Texas,  Dallas,  Texas 

Bellefontaine  Bridge  & Steel  Company,  Bellefontaine.  Ohio,  Contractors 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Goal  Docks,  Two  Harbors,  Minnesota 
Duluth  & Iron  Ranfce  R.  R.  Company 


50 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Newton  Street  Viaduct 
Algiers,  Louisiana 

Owned  by  City  of  New  Orleans 


51 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Grand  Stand,  Anson's  Ball  Park.  Chicago,  Illinois 
John  Street  Bridge,  Appleton,  Wisconsin 


52 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Foundry,  The  Dodge  Manufacturing  Company,  Mishawaka,  Indiana 
Cement  Storage  Bins,  Marquette  Cement  Manufacturing  Co.,  LaSalle,  Illinois 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


St.  Vincent's  College  Theatre 
John  A.  Lane  Manual  Training  School 
Chicago,  Illinois 

A.  Bolter's  Sons,  Chicago,  Illinois,  Contractors 


54 


U S G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Sheffield  Elevator  Company,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota 
Jackson  Gas  Company,  Jackson,  Michigan 


55 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


56 


District  of  Columbia,  Water  Works  Great- Western  Sugar  Company 

Washington,  D.  C.  Blackstone  Valley  Gas  and  Electric  Company  Fort-Collins,  Colorado 

Pit tsburg-Dcs Moines  Steel  Co..  Woonsocket.  Rhode  Island  Pittsburg- Des  Moines  Steel  Co. 

Contractors  Contractors 


Dallas  Gas  Company  Gas  Holders  San  Antonio  Gas  & Electric  Company 

Dallas,  Texas  San  Antonio,  Texas 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Clyde  Iron  Works 
American  Carbolite  Company 
Duluth,  Minnesota 


58 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


The  Marion  Steam  Shovel  Company 
Marion,  Ohio 


59 


II  Q C*  Pn’d 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Federal  Penitentiary.  Leavenworth,  Kansas 
Eames  & Young.  St.  I.ouis,  Architects 
interior.  Filer  & Stowell  Company  Plant.  Milwaukee.  Wisconsin 

Wisconsin  Bridge  & Iron  Company.  Contractors 


60 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


John  C.  Liken  & Company 
Sebewaing,  Michigan 


61 


U . S . G . Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


A Residence  Owned  by  W.  T.  Cooper,  Architect,  Saginaw,  Michigan 
The  East  Saginaw  Club 


62 


U S . G Co’s. 

MEXICAN  GRAPHITE  PAINT 


Fire  Escapes 
Harris  Safety  Company 
Youngstown,  Ohio 


63 


SALES 

OFFICES 

NEW  YORK 

30  Church  Street 

PHILADELPHIA, 

Land  Title  Building 

ATLANTA 

Candler  Building 

PITTSBURG 

Fulton  Building 

CLEVELAND  . 

. Leader-News  Building 

CINCINNATI  . First  National  Bank  Building 
DETROIT  . . . Dime  Bank  Building 


CHICAGO  . 

Railway  Exchange 

DENVER 

Gas  and  Electric  Building 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

Phelan  Building 

BERLIN  . 

Germany 

FUERTH  . 

Bavaria,  Germany 

OES'GNED  AND  PRINTED  BY 
VALLEY  PRINTING  COMPANY 
SAGINAW  MICHIGAN 


I 


